News

OIE Director General Praised Argentina over Animal Health

12 April 2013

ARGENTINA - The Director General of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) Bernard Vallat praised Argentina for its standards in animal health during a visit to the Argentine National Reference Laboratory Agency.

During his visit this week, Mr Vallat met with President of the National Health and Quality (SENASA), Marcelo Miguez.

Mr Miguez said: "It is a very strong support for the Senasa. We have national policies and legislation that supports improved quality of health and food safety."

The visit also included a meeting with the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Norberto Yauhar.

Mr Vallat toured the facilities of the National Reference Laboratory Senasa in Martinez, where he was told about the new facilities and the possibilities for safeguarding animal health, food quality, and the control and prevention of diseases.

The laboratory is the first of its kind in Latin America, designed to the highest standards of national and international biosecurity and to OIE parameters with reference to brucellosis, bovine tuberculosis, leptospirosis, FMD and paratuberculosis.

Mr Vallat said: "Argentina, together with the United States and Canada, is the one country that has more reference laboratories in the region and the world than other.

Mr Vallat acknowledged the achievements of Argentina since he took office as Director General of the OIE in 2001, and said

"From the time that Argentina had a crisis over FMD to the present day, the country has made great progress," he said.

"Argentina is close to eradicating the disease in the region and there haven't been any outbreaks for the last 15 months. "